Feel Good Foods: Beijing Restaurants Serve Dishes That Keep On Giving

What could be better than a night off from the kitchen or a fantastic lunch with friends? How about eating well and giving back to the community at the same time? Between fundraising to educate girls in rural China to providing jobs for the blind, these Beijing eateries have the heart to give back.

At a time when succeeding in business is harder than ever, these places find that satisfying diners’ desires for a great meal while serving the community is a recipe for success. So ditch the apron and head for one of these local restaurants. Eat a meal you can feel good about!

Miam Miam – Love is Blind

Bridget’s smile lights up her face when she talks about her job.

“Making juice is my favorite. I like making coffee too, but sometimes the cups are too hot,” says Bridget, who is visually impaired and has worked at Miam Miam for about three years.

“Bringing blind people into hospitality opens another opportunity for them,” says Managing Director of Groupe FLO Asia Jimmy Loh. He explains that Bridget works full-time, lives in a dormitory, and takes the bus to work.

“Hiring handicapped people is relatively new in China. You have to create an environment for success,” explains Loh, who installed a fully automatic coffee machine for Bridget to use. She has since graduated to a semi-automatic machine and dreams of becoming a barista one day.

In addition to hiring Bridget, Miam Miam partners financially with the non-profit Bethel China to support children with visual impairments by donating a portion of sales from three popular menu items.

“I tell my team to treat her like everyone else. She has the best attitude, and now my staff complains less and enjoys work more. They realize how blessed they are,” he says.

“Charity should be from the heart, not just a marketing gimmick,” says Loh. “Bridget is the glue that holds us together. She brings out the best in all of us.”

Address: 40, B1, Ground Floor, Fenghuanghui Shopping Center, 5, Shuguang Xilijia
曙光西里甲5号凤凰汇购物中心地下一层B1 40号
Hours: Daily, 10am-10pm
Phone: 8436 7501

Moka Bros – Eat Well, Feel Good

“Being involved in the community is part of our DNA.” –Anna Lin Yip

It’s easy for your taste buds to be satisfied after feasting on power bowls, salads, and wraps, but with four locations across Beijing, Moka Bros gives customers something else to warm their hearts. Their list of do-good deeds is as colorful and varied as their menu:

• Power Up smoothie sales benefit Smile Angel, a charity that helps kids with cleft palates regain their smiles.

• Wooden cutlery sales from takeout orders generate revenue for Roots & Shoots’ tree-planting project.

• A special Lanzhou Power Bowl provides schooling for girls in rural China.

• In the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, Moka Bros donated half a day of income from all locations across China to disaster relief.

Now that’s something to smile about.

Address: Sanlitun, 1/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu
朝阳区三里屯路81号那里花园1层
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11.30pm
Phone: 5208 6079

Hulu by TRB – A Helping Hand

Being involved in the community has been the core value for Hulu since the beginning.

“Including my guests or being included in their charitable events allows me to have a deeper connection and better understanding of what our guests truly need,” says Ignace Lecleir, owner and founder of Hulu/TRB Hospitality Group.

Attend just about any citywide event and you’re likely to see Hulu’s presence, from WAB’s Winter Charity Bazaar benefitting Migrant Children’s Foundation to ChiFan for Charity, where Hulu/TRB donated this year’s grand raffle prize: a 12-course wine dinner for eight at TRB Forbidden City, valued at over RMB 20,000.

“I’m trying my best to cover as many topics and [have] as much diversity as possible,” says Lecleir, whose hospitality group has supported animal rescue, library projects, and Wild Women on the Wall (WWOTW), a group of women who raise money for charity through fitness endeavors.

“Ignace has been extremely generous,” says Désirée de Wit, Head of Fundraising for WWOTW. “He supported our spin-a-thon with canapés and cocktails and sponsored us with sparkling wine for our celebration at the end of our three-day run/hike on the Great Wall last year.”

“I personally enjoy giving back in any form. Knowing those in need are being helped and taken care of is a good feeling indeed,” Lecleir says.

Address: 3/F, Taikoo Li South, Sanlitun
朝阳区三里屯太古里南区三楼
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-midnight
WeChat: HuluBeijingOfficial / ilovehuluforever

Side Street – Showing the Love

This year’s Burger Cup Champion believes it’s just good karma to give back.

Side Street changes things up by letting patrons take over the kitchen twice a week. Chef Mannu cooks up Venezuelan Arepas on Saturdays, and Chef Hakan rolls out Turkish Pide on Thursdays.

“It’s a special thing. We’re offering something unique,” says Uday Phalgun, one of Side Street’s partners. “They have quite a following. It helps them out because they share in the revenue, and it brings us new customers.”

But it’s not just humans that get the love; Side Street has a big heart for furry friends. In July they hosted Pints for Pups, a fundraiser for Lost Puppies of Beijing which cares for rescue dogs. Feline companions have something to purr about thanks to Side Street’s Cocktails for Cat Tails events, which donate a portion of vegan burger and cocktail sales to cat welfare charities.

“These events are about giving back to the community, but since more people hear about us, it promotes our business too,” Phalgun says.

That’s a win-win in our book – and stomachs.

Address: 113-02 Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
东城区交道口东大街113-02
Hours: 11.30am-late
WeChat: SideStreet街旁

This article was originally published on our sister site, beijingkids

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Photos: Uni You, Moka Bros